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The Difference Between Western and Japanese Email

One of my Senpais (Senpai [先輩]: Senior), just out of the blue the other day showed me this image and asked me what would be my explanation. My answer is as below. I’ll try to be unbiased in explaining this.

There is a social template that the Japanese cannot defy due to some cultural and mental restrictions. Whilst the Singaporean email is free from template, and value the output more than the form.

The long answer

Singapore

I’ll explain the Singaporean mentality (western mentality) first.

On a communication level

when communicating something, the value is mostly weighed on the most compact, logical reasoning, and the one that give the facts straight, clear and unbiased.

On a cultural level

The time spent working is considered a limited asset for both sides. Each minute spent doing something that is not to the benefit of that time, is considered not good. Hence both sides have a silent agreement to not interfere with each other’s time. Hence, such short emails has nothing to do with rudeness or any cultural restrictions, but with out most respect.

On a technical level

Email is considered as a “new tool” for communicating, in opposition to letters and oral communication. It is understandable that it has it own rules, its own freedom, and its own limitation.

Japanese

Japanese has been living alone in an isolated island for as long as history remembers, forming a very special structure and culture for communicating.

On a communication level

Unlike the western counterpart, the weight is put on the “feelings” of the other party, and finding the best way to give information without hurting them. So the way information is presented depends on who is presenting it and to who.

On a cultural level

There are consequences for being received as rude or too direct. It’s a cultural norm to be indirect and overly polite when delivering information. Hence, having a lot of “unnecessary noise” is a part that cannot be removed. Time is also an important factor but it is one sided, and the standard is different. By one sided I mean that the person receiving the email is the only person that is cared about. The sender should craft the email as much as possible to make it overly polite and easy to understand an follow (by Japanese standards).

On a technical level

Email is considered as a substitute for letters and not an evolution. Meaning that same rules apply, and the form has been slightly modified to suit the email.

Conclusion

Email is an output of a deeper cultural complexity that makes it the way it is. If you are non-Japanese and receiving long email from Japan, don’t get angry, but try to explain to the Japanese counterpart that they can just be blunt and direct and you’ll be ok.